An Alternative to Participant Observation

I have talked about using the
Participant Observation technique as a data gathering tool, and also mentioned that there are
a few disadvantages to this technique - so here I offer an alternative technique to Participant Observation.

Gather Data without Direct Observation

The following alternative uses the principles of Participant Observation to gather data on an incident without direct observation.

To use this method effectively, an incident must be specific. It must be fairly brief and well defined. Participants are instructed to describe an incident in enough detail to give the analyst the feeling that he or she is present.

For example, instruct participants to:

· think of examples when customers were pleased with the service provided,

· describe in detail the circumstances of the incident so that the incident can be visualized.

Advantages of Gathering Data on an Incident with Direct Observation

Using this method, the analyst can collect information from more participants than would be possible with Participant Observation.

This alternative method is an inductive method of data gathering where the analyst does not have to hypothesize on the results. The incidents themselves form patterns that the analyst can develop into concepts, theories, and requirements.

Disadvantage of Gathering Data on an Incident with Direct Observation

This alternative method still relies on second-hand information. The analyst is not present to observe directly, which could result in incomplete information.

Craig has over 25 years of Technology Consulting experience including 10 years in Project Leadership roles. He has extensive background working with large scale, high-profile systems integration and development projects that span a customer’s organization, and experience designing robust solutions that bring together multiple platforms from Intel to Unix to Mainframe technologies with the Internet.